The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-22
Jay Gould's Curious Idea of the Bound
aries of the Fashionable Woman.
Ballet that Would Surely Make the Fortune
of Theatrical Manager-Actresses Barred
from Tuxedo's Sacred Precincts.
New York Beauties Seek Amusement in
Witnessing Athletic Contests.
The Unrufied Jersey Lily on Exhibition
Queen IsabeIla's Diamonds-The Simple
and Guileless People of Samuelsyille.
Special to the indiananoli. journal.

Special to the Indianapolis journal.
NEW YoRK. May 2I.--Jay Gould gave me
mighty curious notion of the boundaries Of
fashionable woman. He sat in his private box
at the Metropolitan Opera-house. with his son
George and his pretty daughterin-law beside
HIM. There was q brilliantly illuminated scene
on the stage. ani, in a trifing mismanagement
of the lights, calcium was turned from the
rear on a thin cloth that painted to repre-
sent marble Not only was the non-soidity of
the masonry disclosed, but the shadow of more
substantial actress was thrown, in sharp sill
houette, on the transparent fabric. 'Ha, ha,"
softly laughed the millionaire.
"Oh, papa Gould" said Mrs. George who was
an actress before her marriage. you know, 'syou
are cruel to laugh at mishaps."
II wasn't laughing at that, exactly, but at
what it reminded me Of" said Gould, as re-
ported within ten minutes to me by his partner
and friend, Conner; II was thinking, as saw
the shape of that woman outlined so sharply,
of how mans early employment fixes his I'M
pressions for life. Now, I was civil engineer.
1t was for several years my hard work to trudge
around the country making measurements for
county maps. In that way the boun-
daries of towns became impressed on my
mind, and to this day the mention
of any of those towns or counties brings before
my mental vision the shape Of it as I traced it
out so laboriously. From that experience got
into the habit of taking in the outlines of every
thing look at instinctivey. Every object is
mapped out like flash to me. Now, the ladies
are constantly changing their boundaries to suit
new fashions. That distinct shadow of the
actress a map of a German gretchen. She
doesn't alter much. But fashionable women
shift their bounds as often as a country in GEN.
trail Europe The peninsula Of your head, which
your isthmus of neck connects with your body
is small when bonnets decrease, and enlarges
immensely with faring hats. Your skirts are
now dstended by bustes at point, whereas
they used to be expanded at another by hoops
And so it goes. The map of stylish woman
would have to be newly surveyed every year to
be kept correct"
At kirmess several years ago. the maiders
of our warranted best society appeared in peas
antry dances Before many spectators as the
Academy of Music would hold Miss Carrie As
tor. now Mrs. Wilson, principal danseuse.
The exploit for charity caused much comment,
and it has not since been repeated in town. But
a sedulously chosen company went over to Sta
ten Island, the other night, and performed in
still more elaborate ballet. A skilled master
had drilled them for weeks, costumer had
fitted them with the requisite dresses to repre-
sent milkmaids, Swedes, gypsies. Hungarians,
Italians and lawn-tennis queens. The very
flower and pride of sweldom were contained in
this exclusive troupe of volunteers. and they
really made graceful show. Each separate
group had chaperone who came out on the
floor with them, and stood digrifedy by while
they danced. A thousand spectators gazed and
applauded while the merry girls trpped the
measures. The theatrical mana
ger who could command that ballet would make
q fortune, indeed.
But high society, of course. will only indulge
in that sort of thing for charity. There is jol-
" row at Tuxedo Park over the question of let
ting any actress so much as touch that exclusive
resort with the hem OF her garments. Patti was
invited to visit the Hewitts at Tuxedo. The
Hewitts are very musical. and Patti would have
accepted the opportunity to mix ever so ginger
ly, with the swells; but when the Mayor wrote
TO P. Lorillard, the progenitor and controller of
Tuxedo, saying that he supposed no objection
would be made. Mr. Lorillard replied that he ad-
vised the abandonment of the idea. Several
actresses have been similarly shut out In the
case of Mrs. Lanetry the exclusion was officially
to gentleman who meant to
take her there. Now impends the momentous
issue what to do about Mrs. James Brown Potter.
Eccentric though she be. her morals are above
reproach; her family connections az grand as
any body's in town, and, moreover, she owns a
cottage at Tuxedo. But she is an aetress-not
much of one. perhaps, but enough to count
Discussion is brisk as to whether she shall be
barred out
The eyes of New York beauty are just now
filled by sights of athletic feats Such strug-
gles used to be considered too rude for ladies to
look at. but this spring scarcely q week passes
without its muscular entertainment attended by
fashionable women. This is because the gallant
militia soldiers have gone into the sport. The
various regiments of New York and Brooklyn
nave armories whose drill halls are large enough |
Tor contests, and almost all have athletic asso-
cations. In arranging for these games track |
IS large size possible is marked out by paint
inc the floor. The outer edge lie guarded by |
avn tennis nets, temporary ratings or benches. |
md outside of that, the main floor. rows |
IF chairs arranged for the specta- |
.ors who are also Accommodated in tie |
galleries In some respects these games ars |
more pleasant than the ordinary outdoor meet |
ngs of the summer Everyone has comfor.- |
able seat; there is annoyance from heat |
.old. wind or rain; it is easy to preserve good or
Ter and keep the inner ring clear OF intruders. /
The regiment band enlivens the evening with |
popular selections, and usually after the games /
he floor is cleared for an hour of dancing. The |
rack at first WAS great annoyance to the ath- |
etes who tried all sorts of shoes. but they have
aow settled ordinary running or walk |
ng shoe with the spikes taken ont and their |
,fice filed by thin rubber sole. which holds |
perfectly ON the wooden floor and enables an |
athlete to run or walk as fast he could on a |
,inder path of the same dimensions. Some of |
he girls are sentimentally vanouished on these
occasions and the winner of many an event has /
I'M or leaped right into matrmony.
The Jersey Lily shows herself of afternoons. |
when in town, at public gatherings, as imper-
urbedly calm as Jersey heifer. Everybody |
sazes at her, but she succeeds in seeming un- |
onscious OF the constant scrutiny. She is to-
lay worth $3.50. 900 in cash and nearly as much |
more in real estate. Her investments are all in I
America. Lately she has two attentive beaux /
It her sides frequently. One is the faithful I